November  6,  1S02. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTA  IE  GARDENER. 
439 
Mr.  E.  Russell,  gardener  to  T.  Pirie,  Esq.,  a  successful  exhibitor 
in  some  of  the  minor  classes,  was  second.  With  twelve  blooms  in 
vases,  three  in  each,  Mr.  J.  Simon  was  first  ;  there  being  a  good 
competition. 
In  the  division  for  single-handed  gardeners  there  were  a  few 
classes,  but  the  competition  was  small.  The  amateurs,  many  of 
whom  are  workmen  in  the  Royal  Arsenal,  showed  up  very  much 
better,  and  there  was  a  good  competition  among  them.  One  of 
the  most  successful  was  Mr.  C.  Symms,  of  the  Laboratory  Depart¬ 
ment  ;  and  he  again  won  the  handsome  Vincent  trophy,  which  is 
held  for  one  year.  Twelve  blooms  of  Chrysanthemums  have  to  be 
shown,  and  Mr.  Symms  won  it  for  the  third  time  for  his  depart¬ 
ment,  having  twelve  very  good  blooms  of  Japs,  chief  among  them 
being  George  Lawrence,  selected  as  the  best  bloom  in  the 
amateurs’  division  ;  Madame  G.  Henry,  Mrs.  Barkley,  M.  Louis 
Remy,  Mrs.  H.  Weeks,  W.  R.  Church,  Godfrey’s  Masterpiece,  &c. 
Generally  the  display  made  by  amateurs  was  very  good. 
There  were  a  few  classes  for  fruit.  Apples  and  Pears  pre¬ 
ponderating;  there  were  good  collections  and  single  dishes  of 
vegetables;  and  some  pretty  floral  decorations;  tables,  epergnes, 
baskets,  tfcc. 
Among  miscellaneous  exhibits  Messrs.  Wells  and  Co.,  Limited, 
Earlswood,  Redhill,  had  two  stands- of  fine  Japs,  including  Mrs. 
G.  Mileham,  Madame  Herrewege,  Mrs.  T.  W.  Pockett,  Madame 
G.  Henry,  Miss  A.  Byron,  H.  E.  Havman,  Nellie  Towers,  Mrs. 
A.  McKinley,  Hon.  Mrs.  Tennant,  Godfrey’s  Masterpiece,  &c. 
Messrs.  G.  Bunyard  and  Co.,  Maidstone,  had  a  table  of  dishes  of 
Apples;  and  Mr.  W.  J.  Minhinniek,  florist,  Woolwich,  had  some 
charming  floral  decorations,  showing  excellent  workmanship. 
Reading  and  District  Gardeners’, 
About  120  members  assembled  at  the  last  fortnightly  meet¬ 
ing  of  the  above  Association,  when  Mr.  James  C.  House  of 
Westbury-on-Trym  gave  a  lecture  on  Sweet  Peas.  In  intro¬ 
ducing  the  subject  the  lecturer  asked  the  question,  “  What  are 
the  qualities  of  the  Sweet  Pea  which  give  it  such  a  high  posi¬ 
tion  amongst  flowers?”  and  answered  it  as  follows:  The  wide 
range  of  colour  ;  the  softness  of  its  tints ;  perfume  ;  durability  ; 
grace  of  form ;  length  of  flowering  season  ;  and  that  the  seed 
was  within  the  reach  of  all.  Passing  on  to  varieties,  he  re¬ 
commended  as  the  best  in  their  various  colours :  Salopian 
(crimson),  Lord  Rosebery  (rose  and  carmine),  Prima  Donna 
(pink),  Miss  Wilmot  (Salmon),  Countess  of  Aberdeen  (blush), 
Hon.  Mrs.  Kenyon  (yellow),  Navy  Blue  (deep  blue),  Countess 
Cadogan  (medium  blue),  Dorothy  Tennant  (mauve),  Duke  of 
Westminster  (violet),  Black  Knight  (bronze  or  maroon),  Lady 
Grisel  Hamilton  (lavender),  Dorothy  Eckford  (white),  Lottie 
Hutchins  (fancy),  &c.  An  interesting  discussion  followed,  in 
which  the  president,  Messrs.  Stanton,  Powell,  Neve,  Hinton, 
&c.,  took  part.  The  exhibits  were  numerous  and  interesting. 
Honorary ;  Mr.  G.  Stanton  (Park  Place)  made  a  splendid,  as 
well  as  an  educational,  exhibit  of  a  collection  of  Apples  and 
Pears,  consisting  of  a  typical  specimen,  each  correctly  named, 
of  fifty  varieties  of  the  former  and  fifty  varieties  of  the  latter  ; 
also  a  basket  and  two  pedestals,  standing  about  2-J-ft  high,  of 
beautiful  specimens  of  Sweet  Peas,  illustrating  in  a  remarkable 
manner  the  lateness  as  well  as  the  mildness  of  the  present 
season.  Mr.  Barnes  of  Bear  Wood  staged  three  magnificent 
Melons  (not  yet  named) ;  Mr.  J.  Pound  of  Caversham  two  dishes 
of  Apples,  splendid  fruits  for  the  season  ;  Mr.  Tunbridge,  Med- 
menham,  a  brace  of  Cucumbers ;  whilst  for  the  Cultural  Certifi¬ 
cate  Mr.  J.  Wicks,  the  Gardens,  Broad  Oak,  staged  six  well- 
grown  specimens  of  Turnford  Hall  Begonias,  and  Mr.  House  of 
Oakfie'd  Gardens  a  seedling  Chrysanthemum.  The  Certificate 
was  awarded  to  the  Begonias. 
The  prizes  won  in  the  recent  Essay  Competition  were  pre¬ 
sented  to  the  successful  competitors  as  follows:  Seniors:  “All 
phases  of  pruning  in  connection  with  hardy  fruit  culture.” 
First  prize,  rvalue  40s.  (mathematical  instruments  and  micro¬ 
scope),  Mr.  C.  P.  Cretchley,  The  Gardens,  The  Honeys,  Twyford. 
Second  prize,  30s.  (clock),  Mr.  G.  Hinton,  The  Gardens,  Walmer, 
Reading.  Juniors:  “The  best  means  of  maintaining  a  supply 
of  vegetables  all  the  year  round.”  First  prize,  30s.  (six  vols. 
“Wright’s  Fruit  Growers’  Guide”),  Mr.  W.  G.  Wadge,  The 
Gardens,  Bear  Wood.  Second  prize,  20s.  (mathematical  instru¬ 
ments),  Mr.  A.  Etherington,  The  Gardens,  Park  Place.  Four 
new  members  were  elected. 
- - 
“  Chemistry  of  the  Farm.” 
This  forms  No.  1  of  Morton’s  Handbooks  of  the  Farm,  pub¬ 
lished  at  2s.  6d.  by  Messrs.  Vinton  and  Co.,  Limited, ,.9,  Nexv 
Bridge  Street,  London.  The  present  issue  is  the  fifteenth 
edition  and  fourth  revision  of  Professor  R.  Warington’s  book, 
which  has  been  a  leading  light  to  farmer  and  gardener  students 
of  this  subject  for  nigh  twenty-five  years.  There  are  over  250 
pages  of  very  explicit  and  reliable  matter,  and  the  price  of  the 
book  is  such  as  puts  it  within  the  means  of  the  ycungest 
apprentice  or  journeyman  gardener. 
Fruit  Forcing. 
PEACHES  AND  NECTARINES:  EARLIEST  FORCED 
HOUSE. — The  final  thinning  of  the  shoots  or  branches  should 
have  immediate  attention,  unloosing  the  trees  from  the  trellis 
and  tying  them  in  convenient  bundles  so  as  to  admit  of  ready 
access  to  the  woodwork  and  glass  for  cleansing  operations.  Wash 
the  glass  with  water,  and  the  woodwork  with  carbolic  soap  and 
water,  using  a  brush  ;  then  wash  the  trees  with  a  solution  of 
paraffin  softsoap,  4oz  to  a  gallon  of  water,  at  a  temperature  of 
135deg,  applying  the  solution  with  a  brush,  taking  care  not  to 
injure  or  dislocate  the  buds.  If  necessary,  the  dressing  may  be 
repeated,  adding  j)oz  sulphide  of  potassium  to  the  solution,  thus 
combining  an  insecticide  with  a  fungicide.  Limewash  the  walls. 
Tie  in  the  trees  loosely,  allowing  space  for  the  growths  to  swell 
without  binding,  letting  the  young  shoots  be  laid  in  about  9in 
asunder,  and  not  closer  on  the  branches  than  15  to  18in.  A  shoot 
of  12  to  15in  length  will  give  a  good  percentage  of  fruit  for 
thinning,  provided  the  wood  be  well  ripened,  and  a  Peach  worth 
the  name  to  every  foot  of  trellis  covered  by  the  trees  is  quite  as 
much  as  those  under  early  forcing  can  support  year  after  year, 
though  the  medium  sized  Peaches  and  Nectarines  may  be  allowed 
only  a  space  9in  square. 
Under  the  most  approved  methods  the  trees  will  have  been  at 
vest  some  time,  and  the  roof  lights  having  been  removed,  the 
borders  with  the  recent  rains  have  been  well  moistened  down  to 
the  drainage.  The  house  also  would  be  thoroughly  cleaned,  the 
trees  untied,  pruned,  dressed  with  an  approved  insecticide,  re¬ 
arranged  and  tied  on  the  trellis,  the  border  surface  dressed,  and 
all  put  in  complete  order  when,  the  leaves  were  all  down,  ready 
for  a  start  when  the  time  arrives.  If,  however,  the  roof  lights 
have  not  been  removed,  do  not  allow  the  soil  to  become  too  dry 
at  the  roots  of  the  trees,  as  that  is  sufficient  to  cause  the  buds 
to  fall.  If  the  trees  are  weakly  or  with  too  many  buds,  a  supply 
of  liquid  manure  whenever  water  is  necessary  will  be  of  great 
benefit.  The  loose  surface  soil  or  mulching  also  should  be 
removed  down  to  the  roots,  not  disturbing  them,  but  supplying 
an  inch  or  two  thickness  of  good  loam,  afterwards  sprinkling  on 
it  about  4oz  per  square  yard,  and  pointing  in  lightly,  of  a 
mixture  of  five  parts  bonemeal  and  two  parts  double  sulphate  of 
potash  and  magnesia  (refined  kainit),  mixed.  Borders  that  are 
rich  in  humus  from  heavy  dressings  of  manure  or  thick  liquid 
may  be  dressed  with  basic  slag  powder,  using  about  4oz  per  square 
yard  and  pointing  in  not  SO'  deeply  as  to  disturb  the  roots.  This 
acts  as  a  corrective  cf  sourness  from  the  lime  (about  half),  and 
supplies  phosphoric  acid.  Or,  dress  with  freshly  slaked  lime  in 
about  the  same  proportion  cf  weight,  which  will  be  much  bulkier 
dressing,  pointing  in  without  disturbing  the  roots  to  any  great 
extent,  omitting  the  top-dressing  before  mentioned.  In  treat¬ 
ing  the  border  it  should  be  practised  on  both  inside  and  outside 
borders.  Admit  air  to  the  fullest  possible  extent,  a  little  frost 
not  doing  any  harm  to  the  trees. 
SECOND  EARLY  HOUSE. — The  trees  are  now  leafless,  and 
should  be  pruned  after  untying.  The  house  ought  then  to  be 
thoroughly  cleansed,  with  the  object  of  exterminating  insects 
before  they  have  time  to  find  safe  quarters.  A  good  syringing 
with  petroleum  and  water,  a  wineglassful  of  petroleum  to  4  gallons 
of  water,  one  person  syringing  into  the  vessel  and  another  on  the 
house  and  trees  so  as  to  wet  every  part,  is  a  preliminary  step  that 
we  have  found  of  value,  and  it  does  not  leave  a  film  on  the  glass,  as 
do  soapy  solutions.  In  pruning  early  forced  trees  it  is  not 
advisable  to  cut  away  much  wood,  nor  indeed  any  kind  of  trees  at 
the  winter  pruning,  confining  it  to1  removing  any  useless  parts, 
and  any  long,  unripe  shoots  which  may  be  cut  back  to  a  triple  bud, 
making  sure  that  one  is  a  wood  bud,  or  to  a  wood  bud  on  well 
ripened  wood.  Shoots,  however,  need  not  be  shortened  under  any 
circumstances  except  where  there  is  not  space  for  the  successional 
growths,  or  to  originate  growths  for  furnishing  the  trees.  Those 
of  8in  to  12in  in  length  should  not  be  shortened  at  all,  as  they 
usually  have  wood  buds  at  their  base  and  one  at  the  extremity, 
the  others  being  blossom  buds.  It  is:  a  mistake  to  retain  much 
wood,  which  weakens  the  trees!  in  flowering,  and  there  is  not 
space  for  training  the  young  growths  without  crowding.  In  other 
respects  treat  the  trees  and  borders  as  advised  for  the  earliest 
house. 
HOUSES  STARTED  IN  FEBRUARY.— The  trees  are  shed¬ 
ding  their  leaves,  and  the  buds  are  not  too  highly  developed  ; 
this  is  assuring  of  the  trees  retaining  them,  for  over-development 
of  buds,  combined  with  dryness  at  the  roots  and  fluctuations  of 
temperature,  with  changes  of  moisture,  are  the  chief  causes  of 
the  buds  being  cast.  Any  lifting  or  root-pruning  yet  in  arrears 
