26 



JOUKNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. 



[ July 11, 1865. 



Esq., Car(liif, second with one of 4 lbs. 3 ozs. ; and Mr. Kemp, gar- 

 dener to E. Bentall, Esq., Maldon, third. Good fruit were also shown 

 b}- Mr. Carr, Mr. Barnes, and Mr. Bailey. Providence, though of 

 good size, were not handsome. Mr. Young and Mr. De\-ille were equal 

 first; Mr. Allen, gardener to .J. B. Glegg, Esq., second with a cocks- 

 eomb-crowned fruit ; Mr. Dawson third. In the class for Any other 

 Tariety the first prize was withheld ; the second went to Mr. Bailey 

 for a Priddy Cayenne ; the thii-d to Mr. Godfrey, gardener to H. 

 Chuck, Esq.. Ware. 



Grapes. — Rarely, if ever, have finer bunches than those shown 

 been collected together at any one exhibition. 



The Black Hamburghs were magnificent. Mr. Sage, gardener to 

 Earl Howe, was first with large beautifully finished bunches with very 

 large berries of a jet black ; Mr. Meredith second, with magnificent 

 bunches, the centre one in particular, the three weighing 8 lbs., but 

 a still more extraordinaiT exhibition was that which was put up by the 

 same celebrated giower in the Miscellaneous class, being a single 

 bunch with six shooldcrs, each as la:-ge as an ordinarj' bunch, finely 

 coloured, and weighing 9* lbs. Such a weight in a single bunch of 

 this variety has never, to our knowledge, been recorded before, and 

 the Judges awarded it the highest prize which it was in their power 

 to bestow. Third prizes were awarded to Mr. Wallis, gardener to 

 J. Dixon Esq., Astle Park; to Mr. Henderson, gardener to Sir G. 

 Beaumont Bart., Cole Oi-ton HaU ; and Mr. Speed, gardener to Sir E. 

 Walker Bart. ; and fourth prizes to Mr. Sawkius, Mr. .Jackson, and 

 Mr. O. Goldsmith, aU of whom had good well ripened bunches. Mr. 

 Rawbone, gardener to C. Campbell Esq., Ashbourne, had three very 

 fine bunches weighing 9 lbs. .5 ozs., but they were unripe. A splendid 

 basket of the same Grape, also from Mr. Meredith, had a first prize, 

 and one of 14 lbs. from Mr. M. Henderson a second, and the third 

 was taken by Mr. Wallis. 



Muscats were not suHiciently ripe ; the best were fine large-berried 

 bunches from Mr. Turner, who received a second prize. There were, 

 however, several good bunches from other exhibitors. In Three dishes 

 of different varieties there were several fine exhibitions. Mr. Meredith 

 was first with Trentham Black, Black Hamburgh, and Black Prince, 

 magnificent bunches of the largest size and beautifully coloured. A 

 second prize was given to Mr. Hill, Keele Hall, for Black Prince, fine, 

 the three weighing S lbs. 2 ozs. ; Black Hamburgh, 5 lbs. 7 ozs. ; and 

 Black Alicante (Meredith's variety), 5 lbs. 12 ozs., one of the bunches 

 remarkably fine. Another second prize was awarded to Mr. Osborne, 

 Finchley, for Black Hamburgh ; Bucldand Sweetwater, finely ripened ; 

 and Muscat Hamburgh, very tine. Mr. Peachey, gardener to R. Hole, 

 Esq., Loughborough,' was third with Red Frontiguan, Golden Ham- 

 bm-gh, and Black Hamburgh ; and Mr. WaUis, fourth, with Black and 

 White Frontignans, and Black Hamburghs. Several other good dishes 

 were set up by other exhibitors. 



Of other kinds, fine bunches of Black Pi-ince were shown by Mr. 

 Allen, Mr. Sage, Mr. Pottle, and Mr. Hill, those from Mr. Pottle 

 weighed 9 lbs. ,'> ozs., but were not sufiiciently ripe. Mr. Allport, 

 gardener to H. .^kn-oyd, Esq., Doddington Hall, had Ingram's Prolific 

 Muscat and Black Frontiguan, very good ; and of Buckland Sweet- 

 water remarkably fine bunches were"shown by Mr. Meredith, but they 

 were apparently not ripe enough. From Messrs. Lane came good 

 bunches of Chavoush and Royal Muscadine. For the above the 

 following awards were made ;— For Black Prince : first, Mr. AUeu, 

 gardener to E. Hopwood, Esq. ; equal third, Mr. WaUis and Mr. Sage. 

 For other kinds ; first. Mr. Allport ; second, Mr. Hyde ; third, Mr. 

 Goldsmith ; fourth, Mr. Peachey ; fifth, Mr. M. Henderson. 



Pe.iches and Nectarines consisted of Royal George, BeUegai-de, 

 and Violette Hative Peaches, and Elruge and Violette Hative Nec- 

 tarines. Several of those to which prizes were awarded were large 

 and highly coloured. 



Awards.— For four dishes: first, Mr. Allen, gardener to J. B. Glegg, 

 Esq. ; second, Mr. Hill. Keele Hall ; third, Mr. Rawbone ; fourth, 

 Mr. Enstone. For two dishes : first, Mr. Carr ; second, Mr. Sawkius ; 

 Mr. Roberts, gardener to Hon. A. BaiTv, Tullamore ; and Mr. Sage, 

 gardener to Earl Brownlow ; third. Mr. Ward, gardener to F. Martin, 

 Esq., and Mr. Ruffett ; fourth, Mr. Ford, gardener to Rev. T. Hudson, 

 Watton ; Mr. Young, Leigh Park ; Mr. Enstone ; and Mr. Budd, gar- 

 dener to the Earl of Daruley. 



Melons. — There was a good show of these, and they were for the 

 most part well grown, but many of them we are informed were 

 rather inferior in flavour. Gem was the principal variety shown in 

 the Scarlet-fleshed class. 



Awards.— For Green-fleshed: first, Mr. Enstone, gardener to Sir 

 J. Ductivorth, Bart. ; second, Mr. Earley, Digswell. For Scarlet- 

 fleshed : first, Mr. Gadd, Dorldng ; second, Mr. Weir, gardener to 

 Mrs. Hodgson, Hampstead. 



Cherries. — Several excellent dishes of Bigarreau and Elton were 

 shown, and of the Black Tartarian or Cii-cassian, beautiful examples 

 came from Mr. Turner and Mr. Ruffett. 



Awards.— For Blaik : first. Mr. Tunier and Mr. Eaftett ; second, 

 Mr. Pottle, Mr. Carr, Mr. Marcham, and Mr. Sawkins. For White : 

 first. Ml-. Enstone and Mr. Widdowson ; second, Mr. Turner, Mr. 

 Perkins, Mr. Ross, Mr. Sage, and Mr. Marcham. 



MiscELLAXEOUS. — Figs consisted of good dishes of Brown Turkey 

 and White Ischia ; Plnms, of .Jefferson and Victoria. Of Straw- 

 ben-ies, Sir Charles Napier, Filbert Pine, Admiral Dundas, British 

 Queen, Bicton White, and some others were very good. Ra.spberries 



came from Mr. Young and Mr. Cutbush, of Highgate, the latter 

 showing Prince of Wales and Princess Alice ; excellent baskets ot 

 Peaches from Mr. Osborne, Finchlev ; and some fine Nectarmes from 

 Mr. Henderson, and Mr. Masters, gardener to the Earl of Macclesfield. 

 Messrs. Lane had a good coUection of fruit trees m pots, and Mr. 

 Tunier contributed a seedling Strawberrj- caUed Dr. Hogg, f or whicli 

 a first-class certificate was awarded. , 



Awards.— For Figs: first, Mr. Orman, gardener to R HoUand, 

 Esq. ; second, Mr. Sage, gardener to Earl Howe ; and Mr. Hutt. If or 

 Plums : first, Mr. Robins, gardener to Sir G. Kerrison, Bart. ; second, 

 Mr. A. Ingram. For Strawberries : first, Mr. Bailey ; second, Mr. 

 Widdowson ; third, Mr. Budd ; fourth, Mr. Kaile. 



THE GARDENERS- ROYAL BENEVOLENT 

 INSTITUTION. 



The Anniversarv Meeting was held at the London Tavern on Friday 

 the 7th inst., J. R." Jeffen-, Esip, of Woolton Hall, Liverpool, m the 

 chair. Among those present were Mr. Serjeant Atkinson, Colonel 

 Scott, R.E., Colonel Bui-nabv, Grenadier Guards, Donald NicoU, Esq., 

 Colonel Jeakes, Captain Fox, G. F. WUson, Esq., G. Child, Esq., 

 R. Wrench, Esq. ; Messrs. J. & C. Lee, Fraser, Williams, Inmer, 

 Gray, Omison, and Taylor. , 



Tiie Ch.urman said that he proposed, with much pleasure and 

 heartfelt sinceritv. the health of the Queen. The next toasts were the 

 Prince and Piincess of Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family ; and 

 the Army, Navy, Volunteers, and Naval Reserve, coupled with the 

 name of Colonel Bumabv. . , ^ -x 



Coloxel Bcrnaey, in returning thanks for the Army, said that it 

 had been the custom of his regiment for two hundred years to have a 

 dinner once a-vear, and His Royal Highness the Commander-in-chief 

 had then said "that the •efficiency of the Army was aU that he conld 

 dosii-e. Mr. Cutler, the Secretarv, returned thanks for the Navy, in 

 which he had sei-ved when a youth ; Col. Jeakes and Captain 1' ox tor 

 the Voluuteers ; Captain Shaw for the Naval Reserve. , , , . - 



The CHAlRM.iN then proposed the health of the Patron of the Insti- 

 tution, the Duke of Buccleuch. obsen-ing that nothing could be more 

 encouraging than to have among the promoters of the Institntion 

 gentlemen of such extensive landed possessions. 



The Ch.uioi.in said he had next to propose to them the toast ot the 

 evenin", " Prosperity to the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution, 

 but before proceeding to do so he had to apologise for having left at 

 Liveniool a large per-ceutage of his voice, but what was left was at 

 their serrice. The Institution was one of an unpretending character 

 and had not to contend with poverty, nor was it embanassed with too 

 much riches. It was blessed with one of the most persevenng and in- 

 dustrious of Secretaries. When Mr. Cutler called on him ithe Chair- 

 mani his dittidence and modesty induced him to decline the honour 

 of filling the position which he held that evening, bnt such were the 

 Secretary's persuasive powers and perseverance, that he (the Chairman), 

 at length accepted the post, believing that the duties he would have to 

 perform would be light. On second consideration he found that the 

 task he had undertaken was by no means so easy, for he found he waa 

 called on to strike with Aaron's rod that hard rock their pockets, to 

 cause them to flow in a refreshing steam to those who were dependant 

 on the Institution. He was given to understand that there were fifty- 

 seven of these, of whom thirty were females, and that they averaged 

 the great age of seventy-six. I! those present, or, indeed, the most 

 wealthy in the kingdom' were asked to forego indulgence in the mi6 

 arts or 'in the pleasures of a garden, there were few who would not prefer 

 to give up the former in preference to the latter ; and if so, was it not 

 a duty, was it not necessary and desirable, to make the latter days of 

 those' who so ministered to our enjoj-ments happy ? The Institution 

 was, 2>a'' ercrllence, a benevolent institntion, not one of those of which 

 there were too many instances m which the sober man was chamed to 

 the drunkard, the frugal to the improvident, and he urged its claims 

 to support. Each person present could contribute one stone to the 

 edifice. The stone might be called by any name they choose, a coin of 

 the realm if they liked, and each would have the satisfaction of con- 

 tributing to the support of an institution which did a great amount of 

 good. He found that the annual expenses were £800, and though 

 the balance sheet was i'316 in favour of the Institution, £.300 of that 

 sum must be forthwith dispensed to those who were dependant on the 

 funds. The Institution was established in 18:^8, bnt scarcely came into 

 life tiU 1842, when the present Secretary came into office. He (the 

 Chairman) was surprised to find the large amount which had been 

 distributed in that time, some £12,700, and yet there was a reserve in 

 the Stocks of £5,700. He believed those present would agree with 

 him in the hope that this sum would be doubled m half the period to 

 come. He commended most ardently, most sincerely, the claims of 

 the Institution to support. , , , ~ , nr 



The healths of the Chairman, Mr. Wrench (the Treasurer), Mr. 

 Cutler (the Secretary), were then drunk; and among other toasts 

 given were the Nursery and Seed Trade, the Stewards, and the Ladies. 



The amount coUected was about £380, of which the Chairman and 

 his friends contributed £80. The proceedings were enUvened by some 

 good music from Miss Poole and Mr. Perren. There was a handsome 

 dessert, and a variety of ornamental plants for the decoration of the 

 room, these last coming from Messrs. Leo and Smith. 



