September 24, ]910 



HORTICULTURE 



435 



A GREAT SHOW. 



Shrewsbury Show has well been 

 called the "Mecca" of British horticul- 

 ture, for at no other show can be seen 

 such a fine display of fruit, vegetables 

 and flowers, nor can any other society 

 offer such liberal prizes. $5,500 was 

 awarded this year in cash prizes, be- 

 sides many silver cups, gold and silver 

 medals, etc. 



The Shropshire Horticultural Soci- 

 ety started its great show 36 years ago 

 on a small scale and each jear has 

 seen a steady advance. This year's 

 receipts at the gates were £3,105 15s. 

 (?15,52S). 



Our first picture (cover illustration) 

 shows the champion decorated table of 

 fruit exhibited by the Duke of West- 

 minster (gardener, N. P. Barnes), 

 which won the $100 prize and also the 

 silver cup, value $130. There were 

 five entries in this class. The schedule 

 calls for "30 dishes of ripe fruit, not 

 less than 10 distinct kinds to be staged 

 on separate tables 10 ft. 6 in. by 4 ft. 

 6 in." Special prizes are offered for 

 decorations. Vegetables are always a 

 feature of this show. All the leading 

 nurserymen offer special prizes for 

 produce grown from their own seeds. 

 Our second illustration is of the lead- 

 ing collection of vegetables — 12 dis- 

 tinct kinds — shown by Hon. Vicary 

 Gibbs (gardener, E. Beckett). The 

 first prize for this is $50. 



The third picture is a portion of 

 one of the large groups, open to the 

 trade or private growers, composed of 

 miscellaneous and fine foliage plants 

 in and out of bloom, arranged to pro- 

 duce the best effect and occupying a 

 space of 250 sq. ft. This was exhibited 

 by J. Cypher & Sons, and secured the 

 first prize of $125, four groups in all 

 being staged. 



The show is usually held the third 

 week in August and lasts two days 

 only. Anyone wishing to see it all 

 has to hustle. 



Numerous other attractions can be 

 enjoyed when one tires of feasting the 

 eyes on nature's products, each day 



KIKST PlilZK (JROtP OF I'OLIAGK AND Fl.OWERIMG PLANTS 

 Shrewsbury Show. 



finishing up with a great display of 

 fireworks. G. H. PENSON. 



NEW ENGLAND DAHLIA SOCIETY. 



The annual exhibition of this soci- 

 ety held at Horticultural Hall, Boston, 

 on September 14. 15 and 16, was very 

 fine in every particular and a monu- 

 mental credit to its promoters. The 

 large hall was well filled with superb 

 blooms of which there must have been 

 no less than 5,000, the majority shown 

 singly in small vases and with name 

 attached to each variety. Not only 

 were the flowers of a very high order 

 of excellence and finish, but much 

 taste was shown in most of the dis- 

 plays in the arranging, balancing and 

 contrasting of colors. There were tall 



First 1'ki/.k Chllectiox of Vegetables. 

 Shrewsbury Show. 



vases at intervals, containing long- 

 stemmed fiowers in masses which aid- 

 ed in relieving the monotony of the 

 n'gular show tables, and E. W. Ela 

 contributed a decorated table which 

 made an effective centre attraction in 

 the loggia over-looking the main hall. 

 The judges were J. K. Alexander of 

 East Bridgewater, and E. F. Dwyer, 

 of Lynn. The public were admitted 

 free and they came in throngs. The 

 show was a brilliant panorama worthy 

 of the popular garden flower. 



Among the largest contributors were 

 E. W. Ela, J. K. Alexander, Fottler, 

 Piske & Rawson Co., W. D. Hathaway, 

 N. A. Lindsay, J. P. Bodge, Mrs. L. M. 

 Towle, Lindvall & Delury, G. H. Walk- 

 er, W. D. Moon, A. A. Bassett, Geo. B. 

 Gill and W. P. Hall. Many of the 

 most prominent exhibitors did not en- 

 ter into competition. 



Of the various classes, the cactus 

 varieties were most prominent. As 

 compared critically with the flowers of 

 previous years, a very noticeable ad- 

 vance was in evidence in the newer 

 varieties as to brilliancy of color, 

 length and finish of petal and in the 

 divergent grouping which is continual- 

 ly going ob, whereby it would seem 

 that eventually sub-classes will have 

 to be made in this variable section. 



The show section held its own in 

 all respects and there is abundant evi- 

 dence that despite the growing popu- 

 larity of cactus and decorative, this 

 prim old favorite still has a strong 

 hold on the heart of the dahlia fancier. 

 Of singles and pompons very few were 

 shown. Fancies were also scarce. Dec- 

 orative came next to the cactus in im- 

 portance and many wonderful new col- 

 ors and characters were seen in this 

 bold and fascinating type. There were 

 not so many of the sensational peony- 

 flowered class on display as would be 

 expected at so large and general a 

 show. 



The Massachusetts Horticultural So- 

 ciety again manifested its open-handed 

 generosity in placing its hall, tables, 

 vases and other facilities at the dis- 

 posal of the Dahlia Society. 



